Ashtray



June 23, flfi 1.. A. MARIHART ASHTRAY Filed July 28, 1933 Patented June 23, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlc 14 Claims.

This invention relates to ash trays and has for its object the production of a simple and efficient cigarette feeding mechanism for the ash tray.

One of the principal objects of this invention isthe production of a simple and efficient automatic cigarette feeding means whereby the heat from the burning cigarette will cause the cigarette to be moved longitudinally to permit the complete burning of the cigarette and thereby allow the cigarette to be completely consumed after being placed upon the ash tray and in this way eliminate the obnoxious odor which usually results from the accumulation of a number of unburned cigarette stubs.

A further object of this invention is the production of a simple and efficient automatic cigarette feeding means mounted upon an ash tray, which is so constructed as to facilitate the feeding of the cigarettes longitudinally through the cigarette rest, the heat from the burning cigarettes to constitute a means for facilitating the movement of the cigarettes due to the expansion of a medium which is sensitive to heat.

- Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear throughout the following specification and claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the ash tray;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the cigarette feeding means, the structure being partly broken away and shown in section and also being shown on an enlarged scale;

Figure 5 is a section taken on the line 55 of Figure 3; and

Figure 6 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view through the expansion cap.

By referring to the drawing it will be seen that I designates the body of the ash tray which is preferably of a circular cup-shaped formation but the design of the body may be varied without departing from the spirit of the invention. Mounted within the tray I is the cigarette feeding means A which comprises a substantially rectangular frame 2 having a trough-like groove 3 formed in the top thereof which is inclined downwardly toward the front end of the feeding means. A cigarette feeding wheel 4 is journaled within the frame 2 upon a supporting shaft 5 and this feeding wheel 4 is preferably knurled or toothed along its periphery as indicated at 6. The forward end of the trough 3 is provided with a notch I and the knurled periphery B of the wheel 4 extends up through this notch I to a point slightly above the bottom of the trough 3 in order to firmly grip the underface of a cigarette which is rested longitudinally within the trough 3, as is shown in full lines in Figures 1 and 2 and in dotted lines in Figure 3. A spring dog or pawl 'l' is carried by the bottom of the frame 2 and engages the knurled or toothed periphery 6 of the wheel 4 to prevent the rotation of the wheel 4 in one direction or in a counter-clockwise direction. This wheel 4 may be made of sheet metal, if desired, and upon one side edge thereof are arranged a plurality of teeth 8 which are preferably of a tongue-like structure struck from the side wall of the wheel 4 and are preferably semi-circular in design and bent laterally or outwardly with respect to the wheel to provide abutments against which the operating lever 9 may abut, as will be hereinafter described. These teeth 8 are preferably arranged in a circle arranged about a central supporting shaft 5, as shown clearly in Figure 3.

The operating bell crank lever 9 is pivotally supported upon the pivot pin I!) carried by the frame 2 near one end and this pin Ill extends through or under the eye I I which eye I I is preferably punched from the bell crank lever 9 at its elbow I2. The eye II is preferably loosely mounted over the pin II] to provide a certain amount of play and to allow a slight lateral swing of the bell crank lever upon its supporting pivot I I! for the purpose hereinafter described. The bell crank lever 9 comprises a feeding wheel engaging arm l3 which is slightly twisted to provide a downwardly turned outer edge and an upwardly turned inner edge, which inner edge is adapted to contact with the tongues or teeth 8 struck from the wheel 4. A weight I I is fastened or secured to the outer edge of the arm I3, as shown clearly in Figures 3 and 5. This weight I4 will have a tendency when pressure is released from the upwardly extending arm I5 of the lever 9 to swing the inner edge of the arm I3 away from and out of contact with the teeth 8 of the wheel 4. The upwardly extending arm I5 is slightly twisted in an opposite direction to the arm I3 so as to have the outer edge of the arm I5 extend slightly forwardly and the inner edge of the arm I5 to be inclined slightly rearwardly away from the pivot It as shown clearly in Figures 3 and 4.

Located upon either side of the wheel 4 and extending above the upper edge of the wheel upon either side of the trough 3, is a pair of spaced expansion chambers I6 as clearly shown in Figure 4. These chambers I6 are each provided with expansion tubes I I, the expansion tube H which is connected with one of the expansion chambers It being connected to the other tube by means of a by-pass or transversely extending connection I8. These tubes may be supported in any suitable or desired manner within the frame 2. One of the tubes IT is provided with an extending end I9 upon which is secured an expanding cup or nipple 28, this expansion cup or nipple 20 being of a thimble-like formation and being secured over an elastic band 2| which elastic band fits snugly over the outer extremity of the extending end I9 of one of the tubes IT. The nipple or expansion cap 26 is mounted over the elastic band 2| and a second elastic band 22 is then fitted snugly over the end of the nipple or expansion cap 20, as shown in Figure 6.

A sliding metallic cap also of a thimble-like formation 23 is slidably mounted over the nipple or expansion cap 29 and slides freely over the outer band 22 as the nipple or expansion cap Zll'is expanded.

The cap 23 is adapted to normally rest in contact with the upwardly extending arm I of the bell crank lever 9.

A suitable medium is placed within the expansion chambers I 6 and this expansion medium may be of any suitable or desired character, either of a gas, liquid, or solid. Any well-known substance may be used for this purpose which would greatly expand under the influence of heat.

By carefully noting Figure 3 it will be seen that a trough 3 is inclined downwardly toward its discharge end and toward the wheel 4. This inclination of the trough will tend to feed the cigarette into engagement with the knurled face 6 of the wheel 4. The expansion chambers I6 are provided with inclined inner faces I6, as shown in Figure 1, which inclined faces flare outwardly with respect to the trough 3, thereby providing an unrestricted open end for the trough.

The operation of the device is as follows:The burning cigarette is placed in the trough 3 in the position shown in the drawing, where the papers of the cigarette will contact with the knurled face 6 of the wheel 4, the ashes of the cigarette extending beyond the end of the trough, and between the expansion chambers I6. As the heat from the burning end of the cigarette affects the expansible means carried within the expansion chambers I6, this expansible medium will expand through the tubes I? and expand the bulb or thimble-like flexible cap and this expansion will cause the thimble-like cap 23 to slide outwardly on the projecting end I9 and push the upwardly extending end I5 of the bell crank lever 9 to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 3. This movem nt will raise the outer end of the wheel engaging arm I3 to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 3, thereby rotating the wheel 4 in a clockwise direction and at the same time pulling the cigarette longitudinally of the trough 3 and feeding the burnt end thereof forwardly and beyond the expansion chambers I6 and as the burnt end of the cigarette is moved out from between the expansion chambers I ii of the heat expanding medium within the chambers will begin to contract thereby permitting the expansible cap 20 to deflate and allow the thimble or cap 23 to slide back upon the extension I9 to a retracted position shown in full lines in Figure 3 whereupon the bell crank lever 9 will assume the position shown in full lines. The weight M will assist in returning the bell crank lever B to the position shown in full lines in Figure 3 when expanding pressure is released from the sliding cap 23.

As previously explained, the bell crank lever 9 is also mounted upon its supporting pin is as to permit a slight lateral play or swing and due to the fact that the upwardly extending end I5 is twisted in an opposite direction to the wheel engaging end I3, the wheel engaging end I3 will be swung into contact with the teeth 8 of the wheel 4 when the cap 23 is forced against the upwardly extending arm I5. When pressure is released from the cap 23, the weight I4 will tend to pull the inner edge of the wheel ongaging end I3 of the bell crank lever Fl away from the teeth 8 and allow the bell crank lever to freely fall to the position shown in full lines in Figure 3. It should be understood, however, that the lateral play is very slight and since the parts are formed of light, cheap, and of preferably sheet metal construction, the device may be operated and constructed at a minimum cost. It will therefore be seen that a very simple and efficient automatic cigarette feeding means is provided, the feeding wheel being efficiently operated through the medium of the bell crank 9, which bell crank is in turn actuated through the expansion medium carried within the expansion chambers and tubes which expansion medium will act upon the caps 29 and 23 for swinging the bell crank lever and rotating the wheel 4. As the cigarette again burns back toward the expansion chambers, the operation above described will be repeated and in that way the cigarette will continually burn and will not be choked as is the case with the present cigarette holders and ash trays. Furthermore, should the cigarette be forgotten, the same will be continually fed through the expansion chambers and will be completely consumed. Also it should be understood that the spring pressed dog or pawl I will not only hold the wheel against rotation in one direction or in a counterclockwise direction, but will also constitute a cleaning means as the edge of the wheel passes over the spring pressed dog. By considering Figure 2 it will be seen that the ashes from the cigarette after being burned may be dropped down into the ash tray. It should be understood that in place of the cigarette, a cigar, piece of punk, or other burning element might be substituted without departing from the spirit of the invention.

It should be understood that certain detail changes in the mechanical construction may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention so long as these changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:-

l. A device of the class described comprising a tray, a cigarette, cigar and other smoking article supporting means, and automatic cigarette, cigar and other smoking article feeding means for moving a cigarette, cigar and other smoking article through said supporting means.

2. A device of the class described comprising a tray, a cigarette supporting means carried by the tray, a cigarette feeding means associated with the supporting means and adapted to feed a 0igarette longitudinally of the supporting means, and an automatically operated heat actuated means for moving said feeding means.

3. A device of the class described comprising a cigarette supporting means, a cigarette feeding means associated therewith, and a heat actuated means for feeding a cigarette" longitudinally of the supporting means, said heat actuated means being rendered active by the burning end of a cigarette carried by the supporting means.

4. A device of the class described comprising a cigarette supporting means, a cigarette feeding means associated therewith, and a heat actuated means for feeding a cigarette longitudinally of the supporting means, said heat actuated means being rendered active by the burning end of a cigarette carried by the supporting means, and said heat actuating means being located upon opposite sides of the cigarette supporting means.

5. A device of the class described comprising a ,cigarette supporting means, a cigarette feeding means associated therewith, a heat actuated means for feeding a cigarette longitudinally of the supporting means, said heat actuated means being rendered active by the burning end of a cigarette carried by the supporting means, and said cigarette supporting means having a discharge end, and said heat actuating means being located upon opposite sides and in advance of said discharge end of the cigarette supporting means.

6. A device of the class described comprising a cigarette sup-porting means having a cigarette supporting trough inclined downwardly toward its discharge end, a cigarette feeding means adapted to engage a cigarette mounted within the trough, and a heat actuated driving means for automatically operating the feeding means, the heat actuated means being located near the discharge end of said trough whereby the heat actuated means may be rendered active when the lighted end of a cigarette carried within the trough is brought into close proximity with the heat actuated means.

'7. A device of the class described comprising a support, a cigarette feeding wheel mounted upon said support and having cigarette engaging means on its periphery, a bell crank lever carried by the support and engageable with the wheel for rotating the wheel as said bell crank lever is swung, and heat actuated means controlled by the burning end of a cigarette for swinging said bell crank lever.

8. A device of the class described comprising a support, a cigarette feeding wheel mounted upon said support and having cigarette engaging means on its periphery, a bell crank lever carried by the support and engageable with the wheel for rotating the wheel as said bell crank lever is swung, heat actuated means controlled by the burning end of a cigarette for swinging said bell crank lever, means for preventing the rotation of said wheel in one direction, and teeth formed upon one side of the wheel and adapted to contact with said lever.

9. A device of the class described comprising a support, a cigarette feeding wheel mounted upon said support and having cigarette engaging means on its periphery, a bell crank lever carried by the support and engageable with the wheel for rotating the wheel as said bell crank lever is swung, heat actuated means controlled by the burning end of a cigarette for swinging said bell crank lever, means for preventing the rotation of said wheel in one direction, teeth formed upon one side of the wheel and adapted to contact with said lever, said lever having a wheel engaging end and an upwardly extending end, the two ends being oppositely twisted, and

a heat actuated means engaging the upwardly extending end for swinging the lever to rotate the wheel and also simultaneously bringing the lever into contact with the wheel.

10. A device of the class described comprising a support, a cigarette feeding wheel mounted upon said support and having cigarette engaging means on its periphery, a bell crank lever carried by the support and engageable with the wheel for rotating the wheel as said bell crank lever is swung, heat actuated means controlled by the burning end of a cigarette for swinging said bell crank lever, means for preventing the rotation of said wheel in one direction, teeth formed upon one side of the wheel and adapted to contact with said lever, said lever having a wheel engaging end and an upwardly extending end, the two ends being oppositely twisted, a heat actuated means engaging the upwardly extending end for swinging the lever to rotate the wheel and also simultaneously bringing the lever into contact with the wheel, means pivotally supporting the lever for permitting a slight latera1 swinging play, and a weight carried by the wheel engaging end of said lever for drawing the lever out of contact while or when pressure on the lever is released.

11. A device of the class described comprising a support, said support having a cigarette supporting trough, the trough being downwardly inclined toward its discharge end, an expansion chamber located near the discharge end, a tube communicating with the expansion chamber, said expansion chamber carrying a medium expansible under the action of heat, a sliding cap carried by said tube, a feeding wheel for moving a cigarette longitudinally of said trough, and a bell crank lever actuated by said cap for rotating said wheel.

12. A device of the class described comprising a support, said support having a cigarette supporting trough, the trough being downwardly inclined toward its discharge end, an expansion chamber located near the discharge end, a tube communicating with the expansion chamber, said expansion chamber carrying a medium expansible under the action of heat, a sliding cap carried by said tube, a feeding wheel for moving a cigarette longitudinally of said trough, a bell crank lever actuated by said cap for rotating said wheel, and an expansible nipple mounted within said cap and carried by said tube for moving said cap under the expansion and contraction of said expansion medium.

13. A device of the class described comprising a support, said support having a cigarette supporting trough, the trough being downwardly inclined toward its discharge end, an expansion chamber located near the discharge end, a tube communicating with the expansion chamber, said expansion chamber carrying a medium expansible under the action of heat, a sliding cap carried by said tube, a feeding wheel for moving a cigarette longitudinally of said trough, a bell crank lever actuated by said cap for rotating said wheel, an expansible nipple mounted within said cap and carried by said tube for moving said cap under the expansion and contraction of said expansion medium, said expansible nipple having an elastic band engaging the inner face thereof, and an elastic band engaging the outer face thereof near its inner edge for securing the nipple to said tube, and said outer band constituting a spacing means and trackway for said cap.

14. A device of the class described comprising a support having a cigarette supporting trough inclined downwardly toward its discharge end, a feeding Wheel located near the discharge end of said trough, an expansion chamber located on each side of said discharge end, a slidable cap, a tube supporting said cap and communicating with said expansion chambers, a medium expansible under the action of heat mounted within the expansion chambers and tube. and a bell crank lever for actuating said Wheel and being actuated by said cap and said bell crank lever being adapted to return said cap to an inactive position when pressure is released from within said cap.

LEO A. MARIHAR'I. 

